feel

verb

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\ ˈfēl

felt\ ˈfelt

\; feeling

Definition of feel

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to handle or touch in order to examine, test, or explore some quality She felt the fabric to see if it was wool.

b : to perceive by a physical sensation coming from discrete end organs (as of the skin or muscles) He felt a sudden pain in his leg.

2a : to undergo passive experience of continually felt the resentment of his competitors

b : to have one's sensibilities markedly affected by felt the insult deeply

3 : to ascertain by cautious trial —usually used with out feeling out the sentiments of their neighbors on the subject of school improvements

4a : to be aware of by instinct or inference feel trouble brewing

b : believe, think say what you really feel

5 US slang : to understand (someone) : to know how (someone) feels Yeah, I feel you on that. I fall asleep every time I'm in the car as well.— Scott Sugarman When you buckle your chinstrap up, it's with a purpose, dog! Do you feel me?— Eric Berry

intransitive verb

1a : to receive or be able to receive a tactile sensation lost the ability to feel in his fingertips

b : to search for something by using the sense of touch She felt in her purse for her keys.

2a : to be conscious of an inward impression, state of mind, or physical condition I feel sick.

b : to have a marked sentiment or opinion feels strongly about it

3 : seem it feels like spring today

4 : to have sympathy or pity I feel for you

feel like

: to have an inclination for feel like a walk?

feel

noun

Definition of feel (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : sensation, feeling

2 : the sense of touch

3a : the quality of a thing as imparted through or as if through touch

b : typical or peculiar quality or atmosphere also : an awareness of such a quality or atmosphere

4 : intuitive knowledge or ability

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about feel

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Synonyms for feel

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

Examples of feel in a Sentence

Verb He felt a sudden pain in his leg. I could feel the warmth of the sun. I felt someone tap my shoulder. Do you feel a draft? She felt the fabric to see if it was wool. Your ribs are bruised, but I don't feel any broken bones. Noun the feel of old leather Although the table is brand-new, it has the look and feel of an antique. He liked the feel of the sun on his face.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The open-ended stakes of these genre experiments are rebellious at a time when horror movie messaging can feel so heavy-handed. — Jo Livingstone, The New Republic, "The Subtle Joy of the Small Horror Movie," 1 Mar. 2021 With much of America enjoying the beginning of spring this month, March in New York can feel like winter’s overtime. — Chadd Scott, Forbes, "Four Exhibitions To See In New York This March Outside The City’s Museums," 1 Mar. 2021 How can so many women feel good and mad yet still reluctant to speak up in a meeting or difficult conversation? — Rachel King, Fortune, "11 new books to read in March," 1 Mar. 2021 Life in our shoes can feel heavy, and carving out time for pure, unadulterated happiness is crucial—whether that's your morning cup of coffee, daily gratitude journaling, or virtual catch-ups with those who matter most. — Erin Parker, Glamour, "How 5 Black Women Are Finding Joy One Year Into the Pandemic," 26 Feb. 2021 The players now have access to better facilities, more long-term security, and can feel part of a major, multifunctional club. — New York Times, "Have You Seen This Man?," 26 Feb. 2021 The curved shafts can feel better-balanced and easier to use but may have less torque, while the straight ones will have a longer reach and can more easily do double duty as edgers. — Rena Behar, Better Homes & Gardens, "The 9 Best Weed Whackers to Keep Your Lawn in Tip-Top Shape, According to Reviews," 25 Feb. 2021 In some arenas—academia, media, Twitter—this talent can feel ubiquitous, and more or less apt. — Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, "The Depressive Realism of “The Life of the Mind”," 25 Feb. 2021 Other aspects of the jazz scene as depicted are silly, and this is a story that can’t feel authentic without a convincing musical context. — Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, "‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ Review: Singer in Their Sights," 25 Feb. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Down is a fluffy cluster that comes from the undercoating of the bird, down pillows are known for their soft cloud-like feel. — Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, "Every Type of Pillow You Need to Know About," 18 Feb. 2021 In general, bamboo sheets tend to be a bit more expensive than basic bedding options like linen or cotton, but for many, their luxurious feel is worth the splurge. — Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, "6 Best Bamboo Sheets for Luxurious Sleep, According to Hundreds of Rave Reviews," 14 Jan. 2021 It’s made from 100% saffiano leather, which customers loved for its super smooth feel, and features beautiful gold-tone hardware. — Melissa Lee, USA TODAY, "You can get a Michael Kors purse for up to 70% off during the Semi-Annual Sale," 28 Dec. 2020 Fisher started a Dan Straily fan page online and as the two became friends, Straily began to see not only what a good mind Fisher had for numbers but also his intuitive feel for baseball. — Susan Slusser, SFChronicle.com, "How a die-hard A’s fan is selling top pitchers intel not even MLB teams provide," 23 Dec. 2020 Don’t let the fact that this jacket weighs just ten ounces fool you: Its warmth and protection from both water and wind are not compromised by its lightweight feel. — Lauren Levy, NBC News, "9 best women's winter coats 2020: Best winter jackets for women," 16 Dec. 2020 Their feel is personal, private, warily amazed by their own insights. — Alan Hollinghurst, The New York Review of Books, "The Meaning of Home," 1 Dec. 2020 Lazor, in his first opportunity calling plays for the Bears, will have to develop his own feel for what the Bears realistically can accomplish and call things accordingly. — Colleen Kane, chicagotribune.com, "5 things to watch for in the Chicago Bears’ Week 10 game, including Bill Lazor’s biggest play-calling challenge and Roquan Smith proving the doubters wrong," 15 Nov. 2020 White, 26, impressed the Rangers with his athleticism and his feel for the outfield. — Evan Grant, Dallas News, "Departure of Shin-Soo Choo leaves Rangers avenues to potentially fix major issues in left field," 12 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'feel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.